Reciprocative mechanism for feeding sewer cleaner drive rod



April 2, 1963 c. J. PRANGE 3,083,391

RECIPROCATIVE MECHANISM FOR FEEDING sEwER CLEANER DRIVE ROD Filed March8, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l ooouoa llllllllllllr April 2, 1963 c. J. PRANGERECIPROCATIVE MECHANISM FOR FEEDING SEWER CLEANER DRIVE ROD 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1961 ATTORNEY 6 M m 5 m mJ Q w 5 h%\ .uP 7q M N m H I AN w a mm W R a Q 4 M E E Q E N E E w E fil E1 m m Q. E aK... E m .H. A mm I wmui 1L w m mx \MK 1% mm w m. m\H h R ,Q N a H ms Ea w w w M E Q M \E 5. E Es R Q u Q .E as -M... .E L .M .{L ...1% M..-QQNQJMW 1 MM H m N Q N 1% w\ W QE. FR [NE N1 wwww Q L w MN .MM. M v ww Ev ms QE m E N L E. Q E E. E R NYE E E RE E.

SEWER CLEANER DR Filed March 8, 1961 IVE ROD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5% H l VINVENTOR.

(WAR/.55 J BRA/v65 ATTORNEY United States Patent Qhio Filed Mar. 8,1961, Ser. No. Q4332 19 Claims. (Cl. 15-1943,)

This invention relates to apparatus for feeding into a sewer line, arotating drive rod carrying at its forward end a sewer cleaning tool.The present invention provides a reversible apparatus for feeding therod forwardly into the sewer and withdrawing it from the sewer, and itmay or may not embody, in addition, means for transmitting rotation tothe drive rod, the apparatus being operable to simply effect the linearfeed of the drive rod while another piece of apparatus transmits rotarydrive thereto. The general object of the invention is to provide areversible drive rod feeding apparatus utilizing a reciprocating headhaving a one way, releasable rod-gripping device which intermittentlygrips the rod at the beginning of a working stroke, moves the rodlinearly to the end of the working stroke, and releases the rod during areturn stroke.

-A particular object of the invention is to provide such a rod feedingapparatus wherein the rod-gripping head is adjustable to reverse itsgripping action and to reverse its cycle of feeding and return strokesso as to effect a reversal of the direction in which it feeds the rod.Further, the invention aims to provide such a reversing mechanism whichis operable quickly and easily.

Another object is to provide a reciprocating drive rod feed apparatuswherein continuous feed of the drive rod in either forward feed orretracting feed is effected by utilizing two feed heads arranged foralternate feeding operations in a common direction of feed, each headbeing operative throughout a full half cycle of operation of theapparatus, and each head effecting its return stroke during a half cyclein which the other head is effecting a feed operation.

One of the disadvantages of existing drive rod feed apparatus is intheir lack of adaptability to the use of overload release mechanismtherein. For example, in those machines wherein forward feed of thedrive rod is generated by the rotation of the reel unit (e.g. unit A ofthe apparatus shown herein) the stretch of drive rod extending back tothe reel is too flexible to transmit a back load (generated from anobstruction blocking forward feeding movement of the drive rod)sufficient to actuate an overload release clutch or equivalent device.The present invention provides for the first time in a drive rod feedapparatus, an arrangement that will satisfactorily operate an overloadrelease device in the drive transmitting portion of the device, toeffectively avoid jamming or damage to the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the ensuingspecifications and appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a drive rod feed apparatusembodying the invention, parts being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof, taken on theline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail transverse the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail transverse the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on sectional viewtaken on view of one of the drive heads with portions broken away toillustrate the rodgripping jaws in non-driving position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the same driving head with portionsbroken away to show the jaws in rodgripping position;

FIG. 8 is a detail side view of the other feed head with the upperportion thereof shown in axial section;

FIG. 9 is an end view of one of the feed heads;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a feed head with the jaws shown innon-gripping and gripping positions in full lines and broken linesrespectively;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary end View of a pair of gripping jaws of modifiedform; and

FIG. 12 shows a modified form of feed head.

General Description Referring now to the drawings in detail, and inparticular to FIGS. 1 and 2, I have shown therein, as an example of oneform of apparatus in which the invention may be embodied, the linearfeed portion only of an apparatus for rotating and continuous,reversible feeding of a sewer tool drive rod. A fragmentary portion ofthe reel apparatus for storing and rotating the drive rod, located atthe rear end of the feed apparatus, is indicated at A; a prime mover fordriving both sections of the apparatus, is shown schematically at B; andmeans for controllably transmitting drive from the prime mover B to therotating apparatus A is shown schematically at C.

In general, the rod feed apparatus comprises a controllable drivetransmitting unit, shown schematically at D; a pair of rotatingeccentric drive units (E and E driven in unison through the transmittingunit D; a pair of reciprocating drive transmitting units F and Fpitman-driven from the respective eccentric drive units E and E; a pairof feed heads G and G connected to the respective reciprocating driveunits F and F through swivel couplings which permit them to rotate withthe drive rod while being reciprocated axially by the respective driveunits F, F, and adapted to alternately grip the rotating drive rod andfeed it in a common direction of feed in respective alternate halfcycles of rod feeding operation collectively providing a continuous feedof a drive rod H in a selected feed direction; and reversing mechanism Ifor reversing the direction of feed by adjusting the respective feedheads G, G.

Detailed Description Rotary drive reel unit A may be of a known typesuch as that shown in Ciaccio Patent No. 2,544,256, issued March 6,1951, wherein the drive rod is stored in a reel comprising the largediameter rear end portion of a conical drive cage having a relativelysmall diameter forward end fragmentarily indicated at 15, terminating ina tubular hub 16 which is suitably journalled in a pillow block bearing17. The forward end of the reel cage also includes a drive pulley 1.8 toreceive drive from the reel drive unit C.

Power plant B may be a gasoline engine 19 having a crank shaft driving aplurality of drive pulleys 26 from one of which the reel drive unit Cmay be driven through a belt 21 and a pulley 22.

Reel drive unit C may comprise any suitable reduction unit indicated at23, receiving drive from the pulley 22 and transmitting it through adriven shaft 24 at a greatly reduced speed, to a relatively small drivepulley 25 driving the relatively large reel pulley 18 through a belt orbelts 26.

Suitable clutch mechanism, indicated schematically at 27, isincorporated in the reel drive unit C, for establishing and interruptingthe drive from power plant B to the reel unit A, and may be controlledby suitable clutch actuator means indicated schematically as a lever at23.

Frame structure for the apparatus may include a base 31, forward andintermediate standards 32, 33 and 34 secured thereto and risingtherefrom, and an additional standard (not shown) at the rear end of themachine for supporting the rear end of the reel unit A; and a bed 35 forthe feed apparatus, supported on the upper ends of standards 32, 33 and34. Bearing 17 for the forward end of the reel unit may be supported ona suitable bracket 36 at the rear end of bed 35. Drive units 13, C and Dare supported on the base 3?. below the bed 35 in an arrangementgenerally as indicated in FIG. 1. A pillow block 37 may be mounted inlaterally spaced relation to power plant 19 for supporting the outer endof its crank shaft. It may be noted, by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 thatthe feed apparatus is relatively narrow,

a that the bed 35 may consist in simply a single beam of invertedchannel iron, that the base 31 may be somewhat wider, and that thestandard 33 may consist in pairs of downwardly spreading legsas'indica-ted in FIG. 3. For supporting the bearings of units E, E, theframe further includes laterally spaced pairs of support legs 43 secured'to beam 35 at respective sides thereof and projecting upwardly (FIG.4).

Feed drive unit D may comprise a countershaft 4t mounted in pillowblocks 41 on frame base 31 and having a pulley 42 driven by a belt 43from one of the crank shaft pulleys 20 of prime mover B. Mounted oncountershaft 40 is a small drive sprocket 44 which drives through achain 45 to a pair of relatively large sprockets driving both of theeccentric units E,-E. The drive unit D also incorporates a suitableclutch unit, indicated schematically at 46, for establishing andinterrupting the drive from power plant B to the feed apparatus. Theclutch actuator is indicated schematically, as a lever, at 47. It willbe understood that the clutch unit 27, 28 and 46, 47, may include notonly clutch mechanism but also speed ratio change apparatus forselecting different drive ratios, and that the actuator linkage may bemore compleX than that shown. Y However, since the details of the unitsC and D form no part of the present invention, the simple schematicshowing illustrated in FIG. 1 is employed to illustrate the broadcombination of individually controllable drive from a single power plantto the rotating and feeding sections of the apparatus.

Eccentric drive units E, E comprise respective pairs of eccentric discs49, 49' and 50, Sit (FIG. 2) mounted on respective shafts 51, 51 whichin turn are journalled in pillow block bearings 52 mounted upon theupper end or" support legs 43 (FIG. 4). Discs t), 59' also constitutesprockets, driven by drive chain ,5. It may be noted that the operatingshafts of units B, C, D, E and E are mounted for rotation on respectiveaxes extending transversely of the machine, with the shafts 51, 51 beingdisposed transversely just above the longitudinal path of travel ofdrive rod H as it passcs through the feed apparatus; whereas the reelunit A and its tubular hub 16 (which provides a throat from which thedrive rod H issues) is disposed coaxial with the feed path of drive rodH.

Each of the eccentric drive units E, E is provided with a respectiveeccentric drive trunnion 53 which may be mounted directly in arespective sprocket 50, 51', projecting laterally therefrom.

Reciprocating drive units F, F each comprises a pair of transverselyspaced, longitudinally extending slideways 55 of rectangular box frameform supported upon respective pairs of forward and rear brackets 56, 57respectively of L-form (FIG. 3) including horizontal arms secured to andprojecting transversely from respective sides of the bed 35, andvertical arms rising from the outer ends of these horizontal arms,whereby the slideways 55 are offset laterally from the side of bed 35.Each of the slideways 55 includes vertically spaced parallel rails. Eachof the reciprocating drive units F, F further includes a slide headassembly comprising a pair of slide bearings 5%, mounted on the outerends of respective studs 5? the inner ends of which are anchored indiametrically opposed bosses 60 of a hub spider which includes acylindrical collar 61. Referring now to FIG. 8, wherein the collar 61 isshown in axial section, it constitutes the peripheral casing of a swivelbearing embodying a pair of axially spaced end thrust bearings as whichare mounted between the collar 61 and a two part containing collar ofchannel section comprising a cylindrical sleeve 63, and an integralradial flange 64 on one end thereof and a retainer flange 65 of fiatring form detachably secured to the other end thereof as indicated.Sleeve 63 ismounted for axial sliding movement upon a spindle 66 whichis tubular so that the drive rod H can feedlongitudinally therethrough.To one end of spindle 66 is sccured a neck fitting 67 for mounting afeed head G. It may now be noted that the spiders 60, 61 of the driveunits F, F, non-rotatably carried by the slide mechanism 55-58, areadapted to transmit axially reciprocating movements to the feed heads G,G carried on respective spindles 66, and to permit free rotation of thespindles 66 in the swivel bearing 6l-65 so that the feed heads G, whilegripping the drive rod 11 and feeding it axially, may freely rotate withthe drive rod as the latter is rotated by reel unit A.

Reciprocating movement is transmitted to hub spider 60, 61, by pitmans68 each having at one end an eye 69 encircling a respective stud 59 andat its other end a bushing 7% receiving a respective eccentric drivetrunnion 53 of a respective eccentric drive unit E, E to provide apivotal drive connection therewith. Thus, rotation of the sprockets 5t),5t? develops reciprocating movement which is transmitted simultaneouslyto the feed heads G,

*(3 through the reciprocating drive units F, F. The

sprockets 5t 50', in the arrangement shown, are rotated in the samedirection by the drive chain 45. It is immaterial whether this directionis clockwise as viewed in FlG. 1, as indicated, or is anti-clockwise andin fact, the sprockets can as well be rotated in opposite directions bya suitably modified drive. However, it is important that the sprockets5t), 59 be driven'in a manner such that their eccentric drive trunnions53 will always maintain the same angular rate of travel and will alwaysreciprocate the feed heads, G, G in such a manner that they 'willcontinuously move in opposite directions. To more clearly illustratethis point, the eccentric trunnions 53 are shown in FIG. 1 at a startingpoint in a half cycle of operation wherein the feed heads G, G havereached their outward limits of movement away from one another and arejust commencing to return toward one another to inward limits ofmovement determined by the arrival of eccentric trunnions 53 atpositions of maximum closeness of approach, positioned between andaligned with the centers of sprockets 5, 5%. Thus, in the operation ofthe apparatus, the respective feed units G, G will move in the selectedfeed direction in alternate half cycles of operation, and consequently,at all times one or the other of the feed heads will'be driving in theselected direction while the other feed head is executing a returnmovement.

Secured to diametrically opposite sides of collar flange 64- (FIGL7) areradially projecting ears '71 for transmitting reciprocating movements tothe associated feed head G or G through pairs of push-pull links 72connected to respective cars 71 by pivot bolts 73.

Feed heads G, G each comprise a hub spider consisting of a pair oftransversely elongated plates 75 each secured at the center of its oneside to a respective neck fitting 67. The two plates 75 are disposed inparallel relationship and in equal spacing on opposite sides of the axisof spindle d6, forming a cross-head which provides two clevises'id thatare diametrically opposed across the spindle axis. Mounted in therespective clevises, and pivoted thereto on pivot pins 77, are opposedclutching jaws 73 which have respective integral tail levers 79projecting outwardly from pivots '77 in approximately diametricallyopposite directions, such that the longitudinal axes of the law-taillever elements (indicated by broken lines '80 in FIG. 7) may be shiftedto opposite sides of dead center relationship to the common .transverseaxis of pivot pins 77, indicated by the broken line 81. laws 73 haveclutching surfaces 82 .(FIG. 7) constituting the inner end surfaces ofthe straight bars constituting the jaw-tail lever elements and thusdisposed in adjacent .opposed relationship for clutching engagement withdiametrically opposite sides of the drive rod H. The clutching surfaces82 are .arcuate, are each symmetrical across the respective jaw axis 80so that opposite corners of the jaws 78 are equidistant from therespective pivot 77, and may be contoured as arcs of circles havingcenters disposed on the respective jaw axes 8.0 at substantial distancesoutwardly from the pivots 77, so that the central areas of the clutchingsurfaces 82, at the jaw axes 80, will remain clear of contact with thedrive rod H as the jaws swing over center with respect to the transversepivot axis 81. It will now be apparent that, from its respective jawaxis 80, a clutching surface 82 will extend laterally in bothdirections, spirally (or on a loxodrornic curve) of progressivelyincreasing radius from the respective pivot 77, whereby on both sides ofthe jaw axis 80 there is provided a clutching surface adapted forclutching engagement with a respective side of drive rod H andcooperative with a paired clutching surface of the opposite jaw to gripthe drive rod for feeding it in one direction or the other in responseto tilting of the tail levers 79 in one direction or the other withrespect to the longitudinal axis of drive rod H, followed by theapplication of leverage to the tails 79 such as to press the respectivepair of clutching surfaces tightly against opposite sides of the driverod.

"The invention provides for developing such leverage 'by a pull (orpush) applied in a common direction .to the outer ends of tail levers 79through a respective reciprocating drive unit F or P, which is initiallyeffective to swing the pair of clutching surfaces 82 toward one anotherfrom a non-clutching spacing into engagement with the drive rod H, andupon continued application of movement from the respective reciprocatingdrive unit in the same direction, to pull the drive rod H along witlrthefeed head to the end of the feed stroke. For example, a pull applied totail levers 79 in the direction indicated by arrows 85 in FIG. 7 willeffect til-ting of the tail levers to the corresponding side of thetransverse pivot axis 81, resulting in bringing the clutching surfaces82 on that side of the jaws 78 inwardly into clutching engagement withdrive rod H as indicated in FIG. 7, and thereupon, continued movement ofthe feed head will effect feeding at the drive rod in that direction(withdrawal into reel) as indicated by the arrow 86, until the end ofthe reciprocating stroke in that direction is reached. Then, as thereciprocating drive unit reverses its direction of movement, commencingto transmit a push to the tail levers 79 in the opposite direction, thefirst effect will be to tilt the tail levers 79 back toward thetransverse pivot axis 81, drawing the engaged clutching surfaces 82 awayfrom contact with the drive rod H and releasing the same so that theother drive head, just commencing its half cycle of feed operation, canestablish clutching engagement with the drive rod H and feed it in thedirection '86 through its respective half cycle of feed operation,without restraint from the drive head that has just completed its feedstroke.

In the movement of the jaw-tail lever units in the release direction,the tail levers will approach but will not arrive at registration withthe transverse pivot axis 81.

They are arrested at a position short of such registration, and are heldthere in a full release position for the full return stroke of therespective drive head. To this end, the invention provides a stopmechanism comprising a stop projection 87 in the center of each of thecross head the modified jaws being indicated at plates 75, and acoacting stop bar '88 the respective ends of which are anchored in pivotstuds 89' mounted in the outer ends of the respective tail levers 79.The ends of the stop rods 88 are extended through diametral bores in thepivot studs 89. One end of the stop rod 88 may be secured in itsrespective stud 89, as by means of a set screw 90, while the other endof the respective rod 88 is freely slidable in its respective pivot stud89, as indicated in FIG. 6, to accommodate the variation in transversespacing between the pivot studs 89 as they swing arcuately around thepivots 77. The stop project-ion 87 intersects the plane of movement ofthe respective stop rod '88 as it shifts parallel to the axis of driverod H in response to tilting movements of tail levers 79', and obstructsthe path of movement of rod 88 sufficiently to effectively arrest themovement of the tail levers toward alignment with transverse pivot axis'81, normally preventing an over center movement. However, for thepurpose of reversing the drive, the stop rods 88 are of spring metal,the stop projections 87 present crowned (e.g. segmental spherical)surfaces, the surfaces of stop rods 88 are also curved (e.g.cylindrical) and the extent of intersection of the surfaces ofprojection 87 and the path of movement of the opposed surface of stoprod 88 is such that, by the application of a substantial amount offorce, the stop rod 88 will be cammed to an outwardly bowed condition inwhich it will pass over the stop projection 87, thus crossing deadcenter and permitting the tail levers 79 to tilt in the oppositedirection with respect to transverse pivot axis 81, to bring thealternate pair of clutching surfaces 82 into positions for clutchingengagement with drive rod H, for feeding the rod in the reversedirection. Stop projections 81 may be formed as hardened steel balls(e.g. bearing balls) set tightly, as by press fitting, into cylindricalbores in cross head plates 75, as indicated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 1-0 illustrates in full lines the release position of the jaws 78,and in dotted lines, the driving position for feeding the drive rod H inthe forward feed direction indicated by arrow 86.

Each of the pivot studs 89 serves the primary function of providing apivotal connection between respective pairs of push-pull links 72 andthe outer end of a respective tail lever 79.

'Clutching faces 82 may be of cylindrical surface contour as indicatedin FIGS. 6 and 9, or, as indicated in FIG. 11, may be arranged asopposed frusto-conical surfaces having circumferential configurationcorresponding to that of the surfaces 82 and defining between them,V-grooves 84 as indicated in cross section in FIG. 11,

Modified feed head construction may be employed in lieu of thatdescribed above. For example, a collet type of reversible unidirectionalfeed mechanism, as shown in FIG. 12, may comprise a double-endedcollet-jaw sleeve 1'15 consisting in circumferential arrays of springjaws 116 extending axially in both directions from a waist 117, and acloser collar 118 encircling the sleeve and carried by a reciprocatingdrive assembly F similar to the drive units F disclosed in FIGS. 1-3 asindicated by corresponding numerals designating corresponding parts.

--.C.ollar 11-8'may have a cylindrical bearing throat receiving andsupporting the sleeve 116, and slidable selectively on either endthereof, between limits determined by alternate engagement with theconical shoulders 119 at the ends of the jaw and with stop balls 12f}mounted in radial bores in the Waist 117 and spring-loaded outwardly bya cylindrical split ring 121 retained in a shallow internal annulargroove in waist 117. Engagement with stop balls will normally arrest thesliding movement of collar 118 on sleeve 115, and will then transmit areturn stroke from collar 118 to sleeve, returning it to a startingposition for a drive stroke. Upon moving in the opposite direction (feedstroke) collar 118 will engage conical collet shoulders 119, wedgingtheset of jaws-116 at that end of the collet sleeve 115 inwardly intoclutching engagement with drive rod H and then transmitting feedingmovement to the drive rod for the remainder of the feed stroke.

Reversing procedure may be the same as in the previously described formof the invention, and may utilize similar mechanism, such as a rack bar93 attached to one of the jaws 116 at one end of collet sleeve .115 andadapted to be actuated axially to force the center of the sleeve 115through the collar 118, balls 120 yielding inwardly, until the collar isin position to operate on the opposite end of the sleeve.

The reversing mechanism I may be either manually operable orautomatically operable under manual control. Both types of mechanism areshown herein and may, in fact be both used in a single installation. Themanually operable reversing mechanism comprises a suitable manuallyoperable hand wheel or the like 99 driving a shaft 91 to which isaffixcd a pinion 92 simultaneously engaging a pair of rack bars 93 whichare slidably mounted side by side (FIGS. 2 and 5) in a slideway 94 ofchannel section disposed just above the path of linear feed of drive rodH and parallel thereto. Slideway 94 extends between and is supported bythe supporting feet 48 of the pillow block bearing 52, and are utilizedas bridging connection between the upper ends of feet 48, as best shownin FIG. 4.

Rack bars 93, at their remote ends, are attached to the outer races ofrespective end-thrust bearings 95, the inner races of which are securedto the adjacent ends of spindles 66 (FIGS. 2 and 8). Thus each rack bar93 is adapted to transmit axial shifting movement to a respectivespindle 66, to force the hub spiders '75 of the feed heads G, Gover-center from positions for feed in one direction to positions forreverse feed, the stop projections 81 being forced beneath and past therespective stop bars 88 as previously described. In making thisadjustment, the two hub spiders 75 are moved in the same direction. Toillustrate, if the feed heads are to be reversed from their feedpositions shown in FIG. 2, (in which they will feed forwardly asindicated by arrow 86), both rack bars 93 are shifted leftward as viewedin FIG. 2 (at a time when the operation of reciprocating drives F, F hasbeen arrested) and, with the reciprocating drive transmitting pivots 89held stationary, the jaw pivots 77 will be shifted leftwardly to bringthe jaw-tail lever units to the rightward-feed position shown in FIG. 7,wherein return feed, as indicated by arrow 86, will be effected uponresumed operation of the apparatus.

To effect such shift of rack bars 93, the pinion 92 is adapted to engageboth rack bars as shown in FIG. 5. Normally, however, the pinion 92 ispositioned out of engagement with the rack bars as illustrated in FIG.2, so that the two rack bars may freely reciprocate in the slide way 94in unison with the reciprocating drive units F, F. To effect engagementof the pinion 92 with the rack bars 93, the pinion shaft 91 is slidablymounted in bearing brackets 96 and 97 secured to and projecting upwardlyfrom the respective sides of slideway 94 (FIG. 5) and a coil spring 98,surrounding that portion of shaft 91 between pinion 92 and bracket 96,bears against pinion 92 to yieldingly bias it toward its normal,disengaged position shown in FIG. 2. Thus in shifting the pinion 92 toits operative position, pressure is exerted through hand wheel 92 topush the shaft 91 in the direction indicated by arrow 99, compressingspring 98.

The simplest method of utilizing the reversing mechanism is to shiftpinion 92 successively into engagement individually, with the rack barsand in each position to rotate the pinion to slide the engaged barlongitudinally to effect reversal of its respective feed head.

However, it is also possible to actuate both rack bars simultaneously byshifting the pinion 92 to a bridging position simultaneously meshingwith both bars, as in FIG. 5. After having thus established engagementwith both bars, the hand wheel is rotated to shift the two rack bars inunison in a common direction to effect the reversal of the feed heads asabove described.

Automatic reversal mechanism is also provided, in the form of stopfingers each mounted at one end on a crank shaft 106 pivoted in asuitable bracket 107 (FIGS. 2 and 3) mounted upon the frame beam 35, andhaving a handle lever 168 or other suitable means for rotating the crankshaft 106 to raise the stop finger 105 into a position for engagement bya stop lug 109. Lug 109 is secured to and projects downwardly from arespective thrust bearing raise 95, and is held in a position, avoidingcircumferential displacement, by positioning action of the respectiverack bar 94. For each of the feed heads, two of the stop fingers 105 areprovided, on opposite ends of a crank shaft 106 of sulficient length tospace the stop fingers apart -a distance corresponding roughly to thelength of stroke of the respective feed head, one stop finger beingraised for effecting reversal at the end of stroke in one direction andthe other being raised to effect reversal at the end of stroke in theother direction. Reversal is effected by engaging the lug 109 against astop finger slightly in advance of the end of a return stroke of arespective spindle 66, causing that feed head spindle to be reversed.The reversed spindle will then return on a non-driving stroke at whichtime the other feed head spindle 66 is completing a return stroke. At aproper time, the stop finger 108 for this other feed head is elevatedinto the path of return movement of the stop lug 199 of said other feedhead spindle, thus effecting reversal of said other spindle, andcompleting the reversal of both feed heads. In a subsequent reversingprocedure in which the two feed heads are again reversed back to theirprevious direction of feed, the alternate stop fingers 195 will beutilized for engagement with the respective stop lugs 109, the reversalsnow being accomplished at the opposite end of stroke from the previousreversals.

Instead of utilizing, for each feed head, a pair of stop fingers 195spaced axially apart approximately the length of stroke, there may beprovided for each feed head a pair of the stop lugs 109, spaced apartapproximately the length of stroke (in which case one of them can ifdesired be secured to a respective rack bar 93) and a single step finger105 may then be employed for alternate engagement with the respectivestop lugs 109.

To illustrate the automatic reversal procedure reference may be made toFIG. 2, wherein the two feed heads may be regarded as being located atpositions remote from one another, with the feed head G commencing aforward feed stroke as indicated by arrow 86 and with the feed head Gbeginning a return stroke as indicated by arrow 86'. The visible finger105 for the feed unit G will be shifted to position for engagement bystop lug 109 at a point near the end of the return stroke 86'. Thereversal of head G thus having been effected, simultaneously with thecompletion of the last feed stroke of head G in the direction 86, thetwo feed heads will now be at their positions of maximum approach, andas they commence to separate, the head G will commence its regularreturn (non-driving) stroke and the head G will simultaneously executean extra non-driving stroke (since it is now in a reversed condition).As the two heads move apart, the drive rod H will remain stationaryuntil the heads again reach their positions of maximum separation asshown in FIG. 2 (but with the head G reversed from its position shown inFIG. 2). Just prior to the end of this stroke of the two heads away fromone another, the stop finger 105 for feed head G which is located at theopposite end of crank shaft 106 from the finger visible in FIG. 2, willbe elevated into the path of the moving stop lug 169 on the spindle 66of feed head G, and will effect the reversal of feed head G. Thiscompletes the reversal procedure, both feed heads being now reversedwith repect to their former positions, and as the two feed headscommence another cycle of movement in which they applurality of feedheads arranged in axially spaced relation for reciprocation on a commonfeed axis, each of said heads having unidirectional drive means forclutching and feeding a drive rod along said feed axis in the same direction; means for reciprocating said feed heads in unison in oppositedirections so as to efiect respective feed strokes of said heads inalternating succession in respective partial cycles of feed operation inwhich each feed head executes a non-feeding return stroke during thefeed stroke of the other head; and means for effecting reversal of saidunidirectional drive means for unidirectional feed in both forward andreverse directions.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said reciprocating meansincludes eccentric drive means disposed between said feed heads, andrespective pitmans connecting said eccentric drive means to therespective feed heads.

3. Apparatus for feeding a rotating sewer-cleaner drive rod along alinear feed axis, comprising: a feed head having unidirectional drivemeans for clutching and feeding a drive rod along said feed axis; meansmounting said feed head for rotation in unison with the drive rod duringfeed strokes; and means for imparting reciprocation to said mountingmeans along said feed axis.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said feed head includeslever means transmitting the reciprocating movement of said heads, andclutching jaws actuated by said lever means into tight clutchingengagement with the drive rod during each feeding stroke and actuated bysaid lever means to release positions during each return stroke.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, including means for effectingreversal of said unidirectional drive means for unidirectional feed inboth forward and reverse directions.

6. Apparatus for feeding a rotating sewer-cleaner drive rod along alinear feed axis, comprising: a feed head havnig unidirectional drivemeans for clutching and feeding a drive rod along said feed axis; atubular spindle carrying said feed head, through which said drive rod isaxially movable; a swivel bearing through which said spindle extends andin which it is mounted for rotation in unison with the drive rod duringfeed strokes; and means for imparting reciprocation to said swivelbearing along said feed axis.

7. Apparatus for feeding a rotating sewer-cleaner drive rod along alinear feed axis, comprising: a feed head including a tubular spindlethrough which said drive rod is longitudinally slidable, a hub spidercarried on one end of said spindle; a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced rod-clutching jaws pivoted in said spider on circumferentialaxes, having inner ends positioned and contoured for establishingclutching engagement with said drive rod upon tilting of said jaws ontheir pivots, and having respective tail levers extending generallyradially outwardly; a reciprocating drive unit including a swivelbearing having a rotatable part and a non-rotatable part, said spindlebeing mounted in said rotatable part for rotation in unison with thedrive rod during feed strokes; means for transmitting axiallyreciprocating movement to said non-rotating part and thence through saidbearing to said rotating part; and means linking said rotating part tosaid tail levers to transmit said reciprocating movement thereto wherebyto first tilt said jaws into clutching engagement with said drive rodand thereafter to transmit 16 an axial feed stroke to said feed head andthence through said clutching engagement to said drive rod.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein each jaw has an inner endface of convex curvature providing a pair of clutching surfacesextending laterally with loXodromic curvature on both sides of theintermediate area of said end face for respective forward feed andreverse feed engagement with .said drive rod; means for normallyrestraining each jaw from tilting past a neutral position between thepositions of said forward and reverse feed engagement so as to confinethe jaw to movements between a non-feed position and a position for feedin one direction in response to said transmission of reciprocatingmovement; and reverse means for effecting shift of each jaw past saidneutral position to a position in which it will be actuated for feedingin the opposite direction in response to said transmission ofreciprocating movement.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said spider includes a pairof diametrically opposed clevises in which said jaws are pivoted,wherein said rotating bearing part has diametrically opposite earsdisposed in a plane of the axis of said bearing, and wherein saidlinking means comprises respective push-pull links extending generallyparallel to the axis of said spindle between the outer ends of said taillevers and said ears and pivoted to each of them.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said jaws and tail leversare disposed in .a common plane of the axis of said spindle, whereineach jaw has at its inner end a pair of clutching parts disposed onrespective sides of an intermediate area of said inner end forrespective forward and reverse feed engagement with said drive rod; andmeans for normally restraining each jaw from tilting past a neutralposition between the positions of said forward and reverse feedengagement, so as to confine the jaw to movements between a non-feedposition and a position for feed in one direction in response to saidtransmission of reciprocating movement, said last means comprising pivotpins in the outer ends of said tail levers connecting said linking meansthereto, a spring stop rod attached to one of said pivot pins, extendingtransversely between the two tail levers and slidably extended throughthe other pivot pin, and a stop projection on said hub spider,interposed in the path of shifting movement of said stop rod in a planeparallel to said common plane, in response to tilting of said jaws, saidstop rod adapted to be sprung over said stop projection, whereby toeffect shift of said jaw past said neutral position to a position inwhich it will be actuated for feeding in the opposite direction inresponse to said transmission of reciprocating movement.

11. Sewer cleaner drive rod feeding apparatus comprising: a plurality offeed heads arranged in axiallyspaced relation for reciprocation on acommon axis, each feed head having unidirectional drive means forclutching and feeding a drive rod along a feed axis in one direction andreleasing said drive rod when moving in the opposite direction; andmeans for transmitting reciprocating movements in unison in oppositedirections to said feed heads so as to effect respective feed strokes ofsaid heads in alternating succession in respective partial cycles offeed operation in which each head executes a non-feeding returningstroke during the feed stroke of the other head and means mounting therespective feed heads for rotation in unison with the drive rod duringfeed strokes.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said head includes a spidercoaxial with said feed axis, wherein said unidirectional drive meanscomprises a plurality of jaws disposed in radial planes of said feedaxis and in the form of flat bars pivoted to said spider oncircumferentially extending pivots for tilting movements in said radialplanes, and having, at their inner ends, clutching faces extending onloxodromic curves with respect to their pivots for clutching engagementwith the drive rod in response to said tilting movements, said flat barshaving .said unidirectional drive means comprises a plurality of jawsdisposed in radial planes of said feed axis and in the form of fiat barspivoted to said spider on circumferentially extending pivots for tiltingmovements in said radial planes, and having, at their inner ends,clutching faces extending on loxodromic curves with respect to theirpivots for clutching engagement with the drive rod in response to saidtilting movements, said flat bars having portions extending outwardlyfrom said pivots and constituting levers for transmitting said tiltingmovements to the jaws; and said reciprocating movement transmittingmeans including means acting against the outer ends of said levers; andwherein said reciprocating movement transmitting means comprisespush-pull links each pivoted at one end to the outer end of a respectivelever and extending therefrom generally parallel to said feed axis, anda reciprocable hub to which the other ends of said links are pivoted fortransmitting reciprocating movement through said links and said leversto said feed head, andfor alternately tilting said jaws to rod-clutchingand release positions respectively. I

14. Apparatus for feeding a rotating sewer-cleaner drive rod along alinear feed axis, comprising: a plurality of feed heads arranged inaxially spaced relation for reciprocation on a common feed axis, each ofsaid heads including a tubular spindle through which said drive rod islongitudinally slidable, a hub spider carried on one end of saidspindle, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced rod-clutching jawspivoted in said spider on circumferential axes, having innerends'positionedand contoured for establishing clutching engagement withsaid drive rod upon tilting of said jaws on their pivots, and havingrespective tail levers extending generally radially outwardly;respective reciprocating drive units each including a swivel bearinghaving a rotatable part, said spindle being mounted in said rotatablepart for rotation in unison with the drive rod during feed strokes, anda non-rotatable part, and means linking said rotating part to said taillevers of a respective feed head to transmit said reciprocating movementthereto whereby to first tilt said jaws into clutching engagement withsaid drive rod and thereafter to transmit an axial feed stroke to saidfeed head and thence through said clutching engagement to said driverod; and means for transmitting reciprocating movements to saidnon-rotatingbearing parts in timed relation such as to reciprocate saidfeed heads in unison in opposite directions so as to eifect respectivefeed strokes of said heads in alternating succession in respective,partial cycles of feed operation in which each feed head executes anon-driving return stroke during the feed stroke of the other head.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein each of said jaws has atits inner end a pair of clutching parts one on either side of anintermediate area of its said inner end, adapted for respective forwardand reverse feed engagements with the drive rod upon tilting of the jawto respective sides of a neutral position; spring-loaded 7 means fornormally preventing shifting of the jaws past said neutral positions soas to confine them to movements between release positions and positionsfor feed in one direction, said last means being yieldable in responseto movement parallel to said 12 a load greater than normal reciprocatingdrive loads to effect shift of the jaws past said neutral positions toreverse feed positions; and reversing means for simultaneously effectingsaid reversing shift of the jaws.

16. In a sewer drive rod feeding apparatus, in combination: a feed headcomprising a spider having an axial passage through which a drive rodmay feed on a feed axis, and a pair of rod-clutching jaws mounted oncircumferentially disposed pivots in said spider for tilting in planesof the axis of said passage, said jaws having respective tail leversextending generally radially outwardly; means for transmittingreciprocating movements to the outer ends or" said levers, and throughthe levers to said head; support means in which said spider is supportedfor axially reciprocating movements; each of said levers having at itsinner end a pair of clutching parts, one on either side of anintermediate area of its said inner end, adapted for respective forwardand reverse feed engagements with the drive rod upon tilting of the jawto respectvie sides of a neutral position and for transmitting forwardand reverse feed strokes to the rod after having established engagement;spring-loaded means for normally preventing shifting of the jaws pastsaid neutral positions so as to confine them to movements betweenrelease positions and positions for feed in one direction, said lastmeans being yieldable in response to a load greater than normalreciprocating drive loads to eifect shift of the jaws past said neutralpositions to reverse feed positions; and reversing means forsimultaneously efiecting said reversing shift of the jaws.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said reversing meanscomprises. a pair of toothed rack bars mounted side by side forlongitudinal sliding movements parallel to said feed axis, said rackshaving remote outer ends attached to respective reciprocating drivetransmitting units for reciprocation in unison therewith, a pinionadapted for simultaneous meshing engagement with both said rack bars,means mounting said pinion for axial shifting thereof between theposition of said meshing engagement and a position in which the rackbars are slidable free of engagement with the pinion, and means forshifting the pinion axially and for transmitting rotation thereto.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said reversing meanscomprises stop means moving axially With said spider and stop means in aposition fixed against feed axis for engagement with the other stopmeans when the feed head is nearing the end of a return stroke, one ofsaid stop means being adjustable transversely of the feed axis between aposition wherein said engagement of the stop means will occur so as toeffect said reversing shift of the jaws past their said neutralpositions, and a normal position wherein the stop means moving with thefeed head will pass the other stop means Without engaging it.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said reciprocatingmovement transmitting means comprises pushpull links each pivoted at oneend to'the outer end of a respective lever and extending therefromgenerally parallel to said feed axis, and areciprocable hub to which theother ends of said links are pivoted for transmitting reciprocatingmovement through said links and said levers to said teed head, and foralternately tilting said jaws to rod-clutching and release positionsrespectively.

1,350,994 German Aug. 24, 1920

1. SEWER DRIVE ROD FEEDING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF FEEDHEADS ARRANGED IN AXIALLY SPACED RELATION FOR RECIPROCATION ON A COMMONFEED AXIS, EACH OF SAID HEADS HAVING UNIDIRECTIONAL DRIVE MEANS FORCLUTCHING AND FEEDING A DRIVE ROD ALONG SAID FEED AXIS IN THE SAMEDIRECTION; MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID FEED HEADS IN UNISON IN OPPOSITEDIRECTIONS SO AS TO EFFECT RESPECTIVE FEED STROKES OF SAID HEADS INALTERNATING SUCCESSION IN RESPECTIVE PARTIAL